Sharon and Israeli PoliticsIsrael and Palestine
Two leaders dominate this discussion -- Yasser Arafat and Ariel Sharon -- even while the US and Israel try to promote Abu mazen.
There is little need to document the shortcomings of Yasser Arafat -- they are covered every day in the American press.
... But what about the other partner in the peace? What kind of man is Ariel Sharon? What's his history? What's the mentality and political picture in Israel under his leadership?
Wednesday, March 30, 2005
The Australian: Ambulances transport Israeli troops [March 30, 2005]
The Australian: Ambulances transport Israeli troops [March 30, 2005]: "From correspondents in Jerusalem | March 30, 2005
THE Israeli army uses ambulances to move troops and weapons in operations against Palestinians, a violation of the Geneva Conventions, according to a private television station.
The 10 station's report today included interviews with several reserve soldiers whose faces were blocked out to protect their identity.
'I and other members of my unit saw soldiers with their weapons, bulletproof vests and helmets climbing into military ambulances,' one of the reservists said.
'The use of ambulances is against the Geneva Convention which Israel has signed. Moreover, once ambulances are used for military objectives they become a legitimate target,' said Doctor Rafi Waldman, a member of the organisation Doctors for Human Rights."
The Australian: Ambulances transport Israeli troops [March 30, 2005]: "From correspondents in Jerusalem | March 30, 2005
THE Israeli army uses ambulances to move troops and weapons in operations against Palestinians, a violation of the Geneva Conventions, according to a private television station.
The 10 station's report today included interviews with several reserve soldiers whose faces were blocked out to protect their identity.
'I and other members of my unit saw soldiers with their weapons, bulletproof vests and helmets climbing into military ambulances,' one of the reservists said.
'The use of ambulances is against the Geneva Convention which Israel has signed. Moreover, once ambulances are used for military objectives they become a legitimate target,' said Doctor Rafi Waldman, a member of the organisation Doctors for Human Rights."
Wednesday, March 23, 2005
Thousands of women smuggled into Israel for sex trade
Haaretz - Israel News: "23/03/2005 17:26 | Thousands of women smuggled into Israel for sex trade | By Ruth Sinai, Haaretz Correspondent
Between 3,000 and 5,000 women have been smuggled into Israel and sold into prostitution over the past four years, according to a Knesset committee investigative report examining the status of the sex trade in Israel. The trafficking in women amounts to around a billion dollars every year.
...
The women, sold to pimps for $8,000 to $10,000, are forced to work seven days a week and between 14 and 18 hours a day.
The woman receive just NIS 20 from the NIS 120 paid by the customer.
Haaretz - Israel News: "23/03/2005 17:26 | Thousands of women smuggled into Israel for sex trade | By Ruth Sinai, Haaretz Correspondent
Between 3,000 and 5,000 women have been smuggled into Israel and sold into prostitution over the past four years, according to a Knesset committee investigative report examining the status of the sex trade in Israel. The trafficking in women amounts to around a billion dollars every year.
...
The women, sold to pimps for $8,000 to $10,000, are forced to work seven days a week and between 14 and 18 hours a day.
The woman receive just NIS 20 from the NIS 120 paid by the customer.
Saturday, March 19, 2005
'Israel armed itself with N-option 40 years ago'
'Israel armed itself with N-option 40 years ago' | AFP[ FRIDAY, MARCH 18, 2005 07:51:38 PM ]
'Israel armed itself with N-option 40 years ago'- The Times of India: "JERUSALEM: Israel armed itself with the 'nuclear option' 40 years ago for use as a last resort should Arab countries threaten its existence, one of the men responsible for the state's nuclear programme said in remarks published today.
'The Israeli nuclear option had a single aim to demonstrate to the opposing camp that we had the same capacities as it the day when they will have the nuclear option,' said former science minister Yuval Neeman in an interview with the daily Yediot Aharonot.
The Jewish state has never formally acknowledged having nuclear weapons although foreign experts believe it used its desert Dimona reactor to arm itself with some 200 nuclear warheads capable of being carried by medium- or short-range missiles.
Neeman added: 'We were convinced that Arab states would not hesitate to make use of the nuclear option against us' once they had atomic bombs. "
'Israel armed itself with N-option 40 years ago' | AFP[ FRIDAY, MARCH 18, 2005 07:51:38 PM ]
'Israel armed itself with N-option 40 years ago'- The Times of India: "JERUSALEM: Israel armed itself with the 'nuclear option' 40 years ago for use as a last resort should Arab countries threaten its existence, one of the men responsible for the state's nuclear programme said in remarks published today.
'The Israeli nuclear option had a single aim to demonstrate to the opposing camp that we had the same capacities as it the day when they will have the nuclear option,' said former science minister Yuval Neeman in an interview with the daily Yediot Aharonot.
The Jewish state has never formally acknowledged having nuclear weapons although foreign experts believe it used its desert Dimona reactor to arm itself with some 200 nuclear warheads capable of being carried by medium- or short-range missiles.
Neeman added: 'We were convinced that Arab states would not hesitate to make use of the nuclear option against us' once they had atomic bombs. "
Wednesday, March 16, 2005
10,000 Jews to ascend Temple Mount
WorldNetDaily: 10,000 Jews to ascend Temple Mount: "Group seeks to reclaim Israeli control of holy site Posted: March 16, 2005 1:00 a.m. Eastern | By Aaron Klein | � 2005 WorldNetDaily.com
JERUSALEM -- A grassroots Jewish organization plans to bring 10,000 Jews to the heavily restricted Temple Mount to spark Israeli dialogue about reclaiming the holy site from its Muslim custodians.
'The Temple Mount is the single holiest place in the world for Jews. It's about time the Israeli government restores it to the Jewish people, where it belongs,' David Ha'ivri, chairman of Revava, the group orchestrating the gathering, told WND." ...
...
The Temple Mount was reopened to non-Muslims in August 2003. It is still open but only Sundays through Thursdays, 7:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m., and not on any Christian, Jewish or Muslim holidays or other days considered "sensitive" by the Waqf, the Muslim custodians of the Temple Mount.
During "open" days, Jews and Christian are allowed to ascend the Mount, usually through organized tours and only if they conform first to a strict set of guidelines, which includes demands that they not pray or bring any "holy objects" to the site. Visitors are banned from entering any of the mosques without direct Waqf permission. Rules are enforced by Waqf agents, who watch tours closely and alert nearby Israeli police to any breaking of their guidelines. ...
WorldNetDaily: 10,000 Jews to ascend Temple Mount: "Group seeks to reclaim Israeli control of holy site Posted: March 16, 2005 1:00 a.m. Eastern | By Aaron Klein | � 2005 WorldNetDaily.com
JERUSALEM -- A grassroots Jewish organization plans to bring 10,000 Jews to the heavily restricted Temple Mount to spark Israeli dialogue about reclaiming the holy site from its Muslim custodians.
'The Temple Mount is the single holiest place in the world for Jews. It's about time the Israeli government restores it to the Jewish people, where it belongs,' David Ha'ivri, chairman of Revava, the group orchestrating the gathering, told WND." ...
...
The Temple Mount was reopened to non-Muslims in August 2003. It is still open but only Sundays through Thursdays, 7:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m., and not on any Christian, Jewish or Muslim holidays or other days considered "sensitive" by the Waqf, the Muslim custodians of the Temple Mount.
During "open" days, Jews and Christian are allowed to ascend the Mount, usually through organized tours and only if they conform first to a strict set of guidelines, which includes demands that they not pray or bring any "holy objects" to the site. Visitors are banned from entering any of the mosques without direct Waqf permission. Rules are enforced by Waqf agents, who watch tours closely and alert nearby Israeli police to any breaking of their guidelines. ...
